Immigration Law Clinic students make successful case before the Ninth Circuit

In a case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, students of King Hall’s Immigration Law Clinic successfully argued that a client's life was in significant danger in her home country.

Anita Barooni ’16 and Amanda Whitney ’16 wrote the opening brief, and Hannah Bogen ’18 and Apurva Behai ’18 wrote the reply brief.

John Sheridan of the Class of 2019 presented the oral argument before the Ninth Circuit on Aug. 13.

The court in January granted the petition for review in part and held the immigration agency had committed legal error in its analysis on eligibility for relief from removal. The court also remanded for the agency to redecide the client's claim under the Convention Against Torture.

The client was elated with the students’ work, reported Professor Holly Cooper, the students’ supervisor and co-director of the Immigration Law Center. Cooper commented, "Representing clients before the Ninth Circuit is the pinnacle of most lawyers' careers, but the clinic students had this extraordinary opportunity during law school. The students zealously and meticulously represented their client with the skill of a seasoned lawyer."